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The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has an opening for a Full-time Unclassified Emergency Response Division Chief. This position is in Topeka. Some travel, including overnight is required.

Duties will include, but are not limited to the following:

Plans, organizes and directs all activities of the Emergency Response Division including, but not limited to, negotiating contracts for services provided by fire departments and others at a regional level.

Works with the Staff Development Specialist II’s to create and deliver quality hazmat and search and rescue training programs statewide.

Develops and maintains a strong communication network between all federal, state and local agencies involved in hazmat and search and rescue.

Evaluates and/r suggests revisions to the regulations, policies, procedures and guidelines necessary for the operation of the emergency response program.

Develops the division strategic plan.

Represents the State Fire Marshal at numerous fire service functions.

Serves on committees, advisory boards and work teams to promote hazmat and search and rescue awareness and educate people about the capabilities of the emergency response program.

Acts as consultant to the State Fire Marshal and Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal on issues of hazmat and search and rescue.

Develops position requirements for response team members and ensures contacting entities have adequately trained and equipped personnel to meet their contractual obligations.

Ensures all valid requests for assistance are responded to within designated time frames and in accordance with applicable federal and state laws that govern the activity.

Two years’ experience in planning, organizing and directing the work of a department, program or agency.

Extensive knowledge of chemicals, their flammable or harmful properties, interactions and criteria for their transport.

Ability to supervise; coordinate program activities with other agencies and jurisdictions; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; use tack and diplomacy in dealing with people; keep records; prepare reports and formulate division budget.

Possess three years of experience in managing, administering and/or supervising human, financial, physical or informational resources and five years’ experience working in some facet of hazmat and search and rescue program administration or response.

Must be familiar with all federal and state laws and regulations applicable to hazardous materials and search and rescue responses.

Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the agency.

Performance Standards: To be successful, the expectation is that a candidate will be able to competently perform the routine tasks of the position with limited supervision within six (6) months of hire date.

HOW TO APPLY: The application process has 3 STEPS.

STEP 1: Register by completing the online Personal Data Form(Skip this step if you already have an Applicant ID or Employee ID number.)

STEP 2: Complete the official State of Kansas application form (please indicate all relevant prior experiences and training on your application) and submit to the Fire Marshal.

STEP 3: Email the additional required documents to brenda.schuette@ks.gov. Include the job requisition number and your last name in the subject line.

Include your name and job requisition number on all correspondence when submitting documents.

Your application will be considered incomplete and you will be found ineligible if you fail to submit the required application and documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

NOTE: If you lack any of the required experience and want us to consider relevant education, you must provide copies of your college transcripts/certificates before the closing date.

KANSAS TAX CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE REQUIRED

Each applicant applying for a State of Kansas job vacancy must obtain a valid Kansas Certificate of Tax Clearance by accessing the Kansas Department of Revenue’s website. Your application will be considered incomplete if not submitted by the closing date of the vacancy.

A Tax Clearance is a comprehensive tax account review to determine and ensure that an individual’s account is compliant with all primary Kansas Tax Laws. A Tax Clearance expires every 90 days. Applicants, including current State employees, are responsible for submitting a valid and up to date certificate with all other application materials to the hiring agency. This is in accordance with Executive Order 2004-03. If you need assistance with the tax clearance, please contact 785-296-3199.

Process for Selection: Upon receipt of your complete application packet, an evaluation of your qualifications will be conducted, and your status based on the established minimum requirements, necessary special requirements, if applicable, and preferred selection criteria for the specific vacancy will be determined. Based on your ranking in comparison with other applicants, you may/may not be referred for further consideration and/or possible interview. If you are not selected for the vacancy, you will be notified within 30 days of the position being filled.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement: The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ensures you the right to reasonable accommodations. A request for an accommodation will not affect your opportunities for employment with the State of Kansas. Arrangements will be made if you have a disability that requires an accommodation for completing an application form, interviewing or any other part of the employment process. It is your responsibility to make your needs known to the OSFM Recruitment Office at 785-296-0654.

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The City of Chanute is now accepting applications for a full time Firefighter. Minimum age requirement is 18, must have a valid Kansas driver’s license, high school graduate or equivalent, excellent health, general knowledge of the geography of the City and surrounding area, U.S. citizen, no criminal record, ability to understand and follow instructions, ability to react calmly and quickly to unusual and emergency situations, mechanical aptitude to learn and operate complex machinery, and have the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers. Starting hourly wage: $13.17 D.O.Q. Firefighter I and current (within 1 year) Candidate Physical Agility Test (CPAT) certification are preferred. Successful applicant will be required to take a physical exam and drug screen. Apply at the Human Resource Department, located on the third floor of Memorial Building, 101 S. Lincoln or go to www.chanute.org for full job description and apply online. Or mail resume to: City of Chanute, c/o Human Resource Dept. P.O. Box 907, Chanute, KS 66720 or email resume to tendicott@chanute.org. Deadline for applications: February 1, 2019. EOE/M/F/D/V.

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After much discussion among the Executive board and our partners at the Kansas Insurance Department, we have decided to CANCEL the FRA seminar for this Saturday in Salina. We will be putting portions of the seminar though into the Annual conference in April in Salina as a mini clinic Please watch for upcoming details on this as we approach the April timeframe. We appreciate your understanding on this and look forward to seeing you in April.

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The Office of the State Fire Marshal has an opening for an Unclassified Fire Investigation Supervisor. This position supervises the field Investigators in the Eastern part of Kansas and provides technical work assisting in directing the field operations of the investigation’s division of the OSFM. Extensive statewide travel is required, including overnights.

Duties will include, but are not limited to the following:

fire and explosive work enforcing state criminal statutes, agency statutes and regulations

participating in investigative activities to include case status/clearance reports

assists local agencies in planning and conducting public and agency education programs

Pay Rate: $23.31 per hour ($48,484.80 annually).

Minimum Requirements:

Experience in managing and/or supervising the work of a department, program or agency

Five years of full-time law enforcement criminal investigative experience with preferred experience in fire and explosive investigations

Must have a current full-time law enforcement certification by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Commission (KLETC). Out of state certifications will be considered on a case by case basis.

IAAI-CFI certification or obtain the necessary certification within minimum experience requirements as soon as practical

Certification as a Public Safety Instructor 1 or be enrolled in the Public Safety Instructor 1 certification program at KU Fire Service Training or equivalent facility and obtain the necessary certification within twelve (12) months of hire date

Must have a valid driver’s license.

A four-year college degree in a criminal justice field may be substituted for the required experience. In order to substitute education for experience, a college transcript must be submitted at time of application.

Necessary Special Requirements:

Must be a United States citizen and at least 21 years of age.

At time of offer, candidate must take and pass a drug screening test approved by the Office of Personnel Services and take a pre-employment physical.

Top candidates must take and pass a background check and polygraph.

This position requires the use of a firearm for law enforcement duties therefore, candidates cannot have been convicted of, and must be free of any diversions from, a felony or misdemeanor domestic violence crime as set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 922 (d) (9) and (g) (9).

knowledge of investigation procedures, rules of evidence and rights of suspects, and criminal court procedures and practices.

ability to plan and conduct investigations, ascertain facts and obtain evidence, establish and maintain favorable relationships with co-workers, professionals and the public.

keep records, prepare reports, speak in public, present evident and be able to use a camera.

Certification as a Fire Inspector 1 or be enrolled in the Fire Inspector 1 certification program and obtain the necessary certification within twelve (12) months of hire date is preferred.

Certification as an IFSAC Hazardous Materials Technician level or be enrolled in HazMat Tech certification program and obtain the necessary certification within twelve (12) months of hire date is preferred.

Licenses, Certifications & Registration:

Current certification as a full-time law enforcement officer by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Commission as required by K.S.A. 74-5601a. Out of state certifications will be considered on a case by case basis.

Must have a current, valid driver’s license.

Performance Standards: To be successful, the expectation is that a candidate will be able to competently perform the routine tasks of the position with limited supervision within six (6) months of hire date.

Your application will be considered incomplete and you will be found ineligible if you fail to submit the required application and documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

NOTE: In you lack any of the required experience and want us to consider relevant education, you must provide copies of your college transcripts (must include name of the educational institution) and certificates before the closing date.

KANSAS TAX CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE REQUIRED

Each applicant applying for a State of Kansas job vacancy must obtain a valid Kansas Certificate of Tax Clearance by accessing the Kansas Department of Revenue’s website at http://www.ksrevenue.org/taxclearance.html . Your application will be considered incomplete if not submitted by the closing date of the job posting.

A Tax Clearance is a comprehensive tax account review to determine and ensure that an individual’s account is compliant with all primary Kansas Tax Laws. A Tax Clearance expires every 90 days. Applicants, including current State employees, are responsible for submitting a valid and up to date certificate with all other application materials to the hiring agency. This is in accordance with Executive Order 2004-03. If you need assistance with the tax clearance, please contact 785-296-3199.

Your application will be considered incomplete if an ACTUAL COPY of your certificate is not submitted on or before the vacancy closing date.

Process for Selection: Upon receipt of your complete application packer, an evaluation of your qualifications will be conducted, and your status based on the established minimum requirements, necessary special requirements, and preferred selection criteria for the specific vacancy will be determined. Based on your ranking in comparison with other applicants, you may/may not be referred for further consideration and/or possible interview. If you are not selected for the vacancy, you will be notified within 30 days of the position being filled.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement: The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ensures you the right to reasonable accommodations. A request for an accommodation will not affect your opportunities for employment with the State of Kansas. Arrangements will be made if you have a disability that requires an accommodation for completing an application form, interviewing or any other part of the employment process. It is your responsibility to make your needs known to the OSFM Recruitment Office at 785-296-0654.

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Position Responsibilities: Assists with fire prevention/suppression training, education, operational guidance, and technical expertise to the County Commissioners, County Fire Districts, and business and property owners. Assists with planning and implementing County fire prevention programs and activities, and other duties.

Education/Experience Required: A high school diploma, GED, or equivalent, plus four (4) years’ experience in fire prevention/suppression activities required. Knowledge and experience with computer data entry using Microsoft Office programs necessary. Must have or obtain within three (3) years of employment Training Firefighter I, II, Instructor I, Fire Cause and Determination, and Officer I certifications.

Special Requirements: Possession and maintenance of a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record. Must live within Pottawatomie County, or within a 25-mile radius of Westmoreland, Kansas, the County seat.

TO APPLY: Visit www.hrepartners.com. For a copy of the job description, or more information, contact Human Resources, 785-457-3455 or cmalchose@pottcounty.org. Applicants recommended for employment are subject to post-offer pre-employment screening including a pre-employment drug test. Pottawatomie County is an EOE. We recognize WorkReady Certificates.

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The Local Emergency Planning Committee met Thursday afternoon and heard from a speaker on the subject of hazardous chemical spills on railways.

The speaker, Executive Vice President of Environmental Works Inc., John Rode, was there as a substitute for Manager of Hazardous Materials Field Operations Derek Lampkin of BNSF Railway, who was unable to be present at the meeting. During his presentation, Rode said railroads often saw shipments of hazardous materials. In 2014, BNSF saw about 1.8 million shipments of hazardous materials via railway.

Rode talked about the safety measures taken during these shipments, including items called “rupture disks” on liquid tank cars.

“Most of us will understand, if you have a package and it can create pressure, it needs to have a way to let pressure off,” he said. “A lot of these cars that carry hazmat materials that are corrosive — have a pH that’s high or low — will have a rupture disk. It’s a mechanical device that relieves pressure.”

However, once it relieves pressure, it won’t reset on its own and has to be reset manually by someone such as Rode.

Generally, according to Rode’s presentation, about 73 percent of hazardous materials incidents occur due to human error. Mechanical error accounts for 20 percent and problems with rupture disks only account for 7 percent of such incidents.

He said BNSF has access to a team that will mobilize to handle disasters on its railways. BNSF employs Environmental Works for this purpose.

“We’ve developed a lot of specialized equipment,” Rode said.

This includes a fleet of industrial firefighting trailers, emergency breathing air trailers, chlorine kits, midland kits and air monitoring assets.

The firefighting trailers are equipped with special pumps that can be used to fight fires that might be caused by train derailments in place of using local trucks that could be damaged in the process.

“We can tear them apart, move them piece by piece, we can bury them in the mud, we can flip them upside down, we can catch them on fire,” he said. “And we don’t put our communities in a situation where they’ve lost their apparatus or we’ve damaged it.”

Rode said the team can use AFFF foam to fight gasoline fires and alcohol resistant AFFF foam for alcohol fires. These are only some of the devices provided to help handle hazmat incidents.

“They are not disposable to us, but they are more disposable than the community’s apparatuses,” Rode said of the assets his team had for use in the event of disasters on BNSF-owned rails.

According to Rode, foam trailers can be loaned out to railroads other than BNSF and communities that request its use.

While Lampkin was unable to present at the meeting, he was reachable by phone later that day.

“We operate in 28 states, three Canadian provinces, and we have 32 fire trailers systemwide,” he said. “Our fire trailers are utilized for BNSF hazmat incidents, but if there was a community incident that affected a rail or right of way that really wasn’t a BNSF fault, we would definitely bring pieces of equipment to help out the first responders to minimize that so we can keep our services rolling.”

During Rode’s presentation, he also talked about a large crude oil spill on a BNSF track in Doon, Iowa, which occurred in the summer of 2018. There was a limited amount of information Rode could give, because the train wreck is still under investigation.

According to the Des Moines Register, the wreck involved the derailment of 32 oil tanker cars. About 160,000 gallons of oil spilled into the Little Rock River, according to the N’West Iowa REVIEW.

Rode talked about the process of handling the spill, starting with setting up an incident command center to mobilizing the fire trailers to recovering as much of the spilled oil as possible. He was unable to say how much of the oil was recovered except that it was more than 80 percent.

The process took about seven days.

“We didn’t have loss of life,” he said during his presentation. “I’ll say it very clearly: the railroad lost a great deal of money this day. No figure has been released. I can assure you it was a great deal of money. We had no injuries following, during the cleanup. That is a huge success for the railroad and the contractors.”

Lampkin expressed regret that he was unable to be present at the meeting.

“Really, we just want to convey the response capabilities we have, preparedness throughout the community and our transparency for first responders and provide that free community training for the fire departments,” he said.

One of the local officials who takes part in the emergency planning committee, Lyon County Undersheriff John Koelsch, said he found the presentation informative.

“We found out some resources that we didn’t know were available,” he said.

Lyon County Emergency Manager Jarrod Fell agreed.

“I think the take away from all of our local emergency planning committee meetings is just to educate our group, our membership (and) provide information involving emergency planning,” he said.

The railway is an important part of the committee’s planning, Fell said, as BNSF-owned rails runs through Emporia and Lyon County.

“That’s an important part of our planning process, when we talk about our hazards and vulnerabilities, and (BNSF) did a great job in explaining to us their response to those emergencies,” he said.

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Stanton County Fire and Rescue held their December meeting and several firefighters were recognized for milestones in years of service. Stanton County Fire Chief, Troy Wolf presented them with their respective year pin: Vaugh Lorenson – 30 years; Erin Branstine – 5 years; Jorge Wissar – 10 years; and (not pictured) Kenna Rohrenback – 10 years.

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The McPherson Fire Department announced the promotion of four individuals. Interim Chief TJ Wyssmann was promoted to fire chief. He has served as interim for the department since August 13, when he was promoted from deputy fire chief. Wyssmann’s appointment follows the retirement of past Fire Chief Jeff Deal.

Other promotions include Wade Hall from lieutenant to captain, Alden Slack from lieutenant to captain and Dakota Becker from firefighter to lieutenant.

Memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December, 19, 2018 at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned with Pastor John Thomas. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, December, 18, 2018 at Beckwith Mortuary. Inurnment will be in Brown’s Grove Cemetery, Burdett with military graveside rites.

Memorials may be given to Burdett EMS or Burdett Senior Center, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. 477, Larned, KS 67550.

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A. Neal Reichel, 83, passed away January 7, 2019 at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. He was born August 26, 1935 at LaCrosse to Henry and Esther (Foos) Reichel. He married Opal Mellies November 17, 1954 at Bushton. She died May 6, 2016.

Neal, a long time farmer, lived on a farm northeast of Bison his entire life, before retiring and moving to Great Bend in 2001. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, a former EMT for Rush County, active for years with the Bison volunteer fire department, and a member of the ISIS Shrine. Neal enjoyed and felt blessed to take his grandkids fishing, boating and camping.

Survivors include, two sons, Joel Reichel and his wife Terry of Alexander and Jody Reichel and his husband Seth Munter of San Francisco, California; two daughters, Charlotte Brening and her husband Phil of Fort Worth, Texas and Cherie Belford and her husband Larry of Hoisington; eleven grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a sister, Barbara Baus of McCracken. He was preceded in death by his wife, Opal Reichel and a brother, Carroll Reichel.

Visitation will be held from Noon to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 10, 2019 at First United Methodist Church in Great Bend, with Rev. Morita Truman presiding. There will be a Private Family Inurnment at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Rush County EMS or the Bison Volunteer Fire Department, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

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The City of Louisburg, Kan., is searching for a Fire Chief to serve the city and the Miami County Rural Fire District 2. This position will oversee all fire-related aspects of the volunteer fire crew including fire prevention and suppression activities, to prevent or minimize the loss of life and property by fire. This employee should possess the ability to remain poised and make critical decisions under extremely difficult and hazardous circumstances. This employee should also possess strong mechanical aptitude, excellent communication, supervisory, organizational, and public relations skills.
The position requires one to three years of similar or related experience, a high school diploma or GED is required. A technical degree or some college credit in a related field is preferred.
This position will report to the City Administrator.
The City offers a competitive compensation package including paid employee health, vision and dental insurance, paid leave, and Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) through 2018. Starting in 2020 the position will be a member of the Kansas Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (KP&F). Salary commensurate with experience, ranging from $53,070.79 to $70,823.17. Drug/Alcohol screening required. Applications are available at City Hall 215 S Broadway, Louisburg, KS 66053. Or email jcarder@louisburgkansas.gov to receive an electronic application. Please put “Fire Chief” in the subject line. All applications must be submitted on or before February 15, 2019. For information, contact City Administrator Nathan Law at nlaw@louisburgkansas.gov. The City of Louisburg is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
A detailed job description may be found on the City’s website: www.louisburgkansas.gov

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Greenwood County Fire Chief Doug Williams has been named Interim Sedgwick County Fire District 1 Chief as of December 21.

Williams currently lives in Eureka and has been employed as Sedwick County Division Chief of Operations as well as serving in Greenwood County. He took over for retiring fire chief Tavis Leake.

Williams began his career in 1988 and he has served as a division chief for several years. He has been the Eureka City Fire Chief for 22 years, the Greenwood County Fire Chief for eight years and has served as a former Greenwood County Emergency Management Director.

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John Keating has retired after a 25-year career with the Fort Scott Fire Department. He began his career in 1993 as a volunteer firefighter, eventually working his way through the ranks to captain, his most recent title.

Keating has worked for three fire chiefs the last 25 years, most recently Paul Ballou, who has served as chief since 2009.

After Keating’s retirement, some shuffling in the department included promotion of Jacob May and Clint Roberts to the position of captain; Alex Schafer and Clint Lawrence to lieutenant; and Scott Shelton, Dalton Carpenter and Ryan Thomas from reserve to full-time firefighters.

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Good day Kansas Fire Service. Hopefully you all had a good Christmas and time spent with family. The New Year brings a chance at reflection on the past year of service and potential for changes going forward. We are moving forward in to the new year with a lot of things happening around the state. I would encourage all of you to be looking ahead at what 2019 will bring and find opportunity to make improvements in your agency.
Many departments saw an increase in their calls for service over the past year. This just highlights that the Fire service is a staple item in communities and our resource needs will continue. Hopefully governing bodies will recognize this and continue to properly fund the emergency services across the state. It is our job as leaders in the fire service of the state to accurately and consistently collect that response data so we can show our elected officials our needs and justify the expenses. The most effective way to do that is through fire reports. If you are having issues with getting reports in or are having difficulty in completing reports, please make sure to contact the Office of the State Fire Marshal for assistance. They have staff who can help you report as well as help you what proper coding and other questions you may have. They also can help you gain access to the reporting software at little to no cost.
Your Executive Board has been meeting with other fire groups as well as law enforcement and EMS groups this year to try and promote legislative language to cover cancer, PTSD, and various communicable diseases. We are attempting to build a coalition of public safety that can be together on issues such as this as well as retirement issue and other public safety related issues going forward. This will be just the first year working together, but it will be beneficial to the fire service as a whole as we go forward in time. We have been hearing for years that the divide between fire service groups is our greatest barrier in the legislature. If we can get all the groups on the same page, we will be a formidable force.
Finally, your Executive Board has been working on various new curriculums to deliver at our regional schools as well as those we will be able to co deliver with other entities across the state. The much-anticipated wildfire curriculum will be nearing completion in the next few months. It is a great example of collaboration between multiple fire service entities to develop a tool for all of the Kansas Fire Service.
I will leave you this month with a reminder to try and attend one of our regional schools. We have several good ones upcoming in your area. Also, there is the SCAFFA school on March 21-24 in Topeka this year which will feature several keynote speakers as well as many new courses based on student requests from the last couple years. Many of the classes are based around hands on skills as well as some officer development courses. And I would be remiss if I did not mention our Annual Conference on April 25, 26, and 27 in Salina Kansas. If you have never been before, please consider attending. Help us conduct the business of this association for the betterment of the Kansas Fire Service. You can find information on this and all the other trainings across Kansas at www.ksffa.com. Have a safe day and see you all at a school near you!

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John B. Riedel, 80, died December 30, 2018, at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. He was born July 8, 1938, on the family farm near Olmitz, Kansas, the son of Bernard J. and Anna V. (Budig) Riedel. John was a graduate of Otis High School and served in the Army Reserves.

A lifetime resident of Olmitz, John drove the milk truck for the cheese plant and then as a pumper in the oilfield for many years. Later he worked as an irrigation specialist for A.V.I. John Deere in Larned; and Bird Oil. He retired from Superior Essex as a machine operator at the age of 70.

He was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, in Olmitz. He had also served on the Olmitz city council and the volunteer fire department. John loved to tinker and could most often be found in his garage working on a project. He also loved to garden and smoke meats in his smokehouse, and loved spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

On October 20, 1958, he married Imelda A. “Meldie” Lichter at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Olmitz. She preceded him in death on January 1, 2018.

He is survived by six children; Brenda Riedel of Olmitz, Tom Riedel of McPherson, Sandy Urban and husband Charlie of Olmitz, Richard Riedel and wife Shelley of Hoisington, Linda Pechanec and husband Tom of Timken, and Sheila Schilowsky of Great Bend; sister, Janet Savage of Gilman City, MO; 14 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughter, Tammy Jo Riedel, brother, Melvin Riedel, and a sister, Ann Mantz.

Friends may call 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the funeral home. Casket will be closed, per his wishes.

Vigil and Rosary will be 7 p.m. Thursday, with family to greet friends prior to, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the church. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 4, 2019, all at St. Ann Catholic Church, Olmitz, celebrated by Father Don Bedore. Burial will follow in St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery, Olmitz.

Memorials may be made to the Olmitz Volunteer Fire Department, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

He was born May 14, 1940 in Parsons, Kansas to Charles Wesley and Alberta C. (Ford) Brown. Jack grew up in Parsons and graduated in 1958 from Labette County Community High School in Altamont.

Following high school, he served in the United States Army Reserve from 1959-1965. He was employed from 1961-1967 as a psychiatric aide at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center, from 1967-1976 at the Parsons Fire Department, and at Peabody TecTank in Parsons from 1977 until retiring in 2002. Jack also worked part-time at the Carson Funeral Home which later became Carson-Dick Funeral Home for 15 years. Most recently he worked part-time at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

He was a member of the First Christian Church in Parsons. He was also a member of the Elks – BPOE Lodge No. 527 and in earlier years the Order of DeMolay. He enjoyed fishing, dancing, and playing cards at the Katy Parsons Golf Club.

Jack and Joyce Tedstrom were married September 23, 1961 in Parsons. She preceded him in death on November 28, 2004. On April 1, 2006, he and Charlotte McGuire were married in Parsons.

Survivors include:

His Wife – Charlotte Brown of the home

One Son – David Brown of Webb City, MO

Three Daughters – Tracy Reece of San Antonio, TX

Melissa Sloan of Pittsburg, KS

Kimberly Gruver of Parsons, KS

Eight Grandchildren

Five Great-Grandchildren

In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by one sister, Carolyn Keeling.

Following cremation, private burial will be in Springhill Cemetery under the direction of the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Friends may call to pay their respect from noon until 5:00 p.m., on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at the family home in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Dialysis Memorial Fund. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

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Seventy volunteer and part-time fire departments across the state received funds this year through the Kansas Firefighter Recruitment and Safety Grant Program administered by the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM). The grant awards will be used by fire departments for the purchase of safety gear, washer/extractor machines for cleaning bunker gear, start-up of Junior Firefighter programs and physical costs for firefighters with no insurance or ability to be reimbursed by their department.

This program was made possible with the 2018 State of Kansas budget passed by the state Legislature. Last year, 36 departments were awarded grant funds with the previous grant budget of $200,000. The OSFM was able to award grant funds to nearly twice as many departments this year, with the funding being doubled to $400,000.

Volunteer and part-time fire departments face recruitment and retention challenges because they do not have the funding to provide safety equipment. Without new equipment provided by the recruiting fire department, potential volunteers are faced with not only donating their time but also providing their own safety gear, sharing gear with others, or doing without. There is also a proven increase in cancer diagnoses for firefighters, which can be caused by prolonged exposure to carcinogens, particulates and biohazards. The proper gear, regular cleaning of that gear and equipment, along with preventative healthcare is crucial for a firefighter’s health and well-being.

This year, over $1.3 million in requests from 79 departments were submitted. Fire departments received approximately $310,000 to be used for safety gear and $90,000 for 26 washer/extractor machines. Due to the high number of requests, OSFM will be requesting the 2019 Legislature continue funding this important grant.

‘We’ve seen, by the sheer number of requests for this funding, the need is high among our volunteer and part-time fire departments,’ Doug Jorgensen, State Fire Marshal, said. ‘It is simply unacceptable to ask Kansans, not only to volunteer their time as first responders in smaller communities, but to also sacrifice their safety by not giving them the tools they need to protect and serve their communities as volunteer firefighters. This grant allows us to assist in providing some of the funds needed to provide safety equipment the departments otherwise could not afford.’

Lowell was born in McPherson, Kansas on April 28, 1941, a son of Josephine (Ensz) and Peter W. Friesen.

Lowell attended and graduated from Plainview Country School, rural Inman, Kansas and received his GED later in life.

He was a member of the Galva United Methodist Church, Galva, Kansas.

Lowell was a farmer and through the years also worked for Moridge Mfg., Moundridge, Kansas, Empire Township as a road maintainer, Galva, Kansas and retired from Bradbury Company as an assembler, Moundridge, Kansas.

Lowell was a board member of the McPherson County Rural Water District #4 and was a former volunteer firefighter for the Galva Fire Department.

Lowell enjoyed farming, puttering and tinkering outside in his shed and watching his grandchildren and their sporting events. Lowell knew no strangers and loved visiting and spending time with his friends and family.

Lowell was united in marriage to Yvonne Eilene (Ratzlaff) Grant on November 14, 1970 at Galva United Methodist Church, Galva, Kansas. The couple established their first home together in Galva, Kansas. This union was blessed with Yvonne’s three children, Jacki, Amy and Lance, and the birth of a son Kraig.

He is survived by his wife Yvonne Friesen, of McPherson, Kansas; his children, Jacki Clinton and her husband Tony, of Canton, Kansas, Amy Campbell and her husband Steve, of McPherson, Kansas, Lance Grant and his wife Kathy, of Canton, Kansas, Kraig Friesen and his wife Traci, of Galva, Kansas; his siblings, Weston Friesen and his wife Linda, of Ogallala, Nebraska, JoAnne Friesen, of Inman, Kansas, Marge Goering and her husband Dave, of Moundridge, Kansas, Kenneth Friesen and his wife Rita, of Moscow, Kansas, Royal Dean Friesen and his wife Dawn, of Hardin, Montana and Lynel Friesen and his wife Linda, of Inman, Kansas and his 11 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Lowell was preceded in death by his parents and a great-granddaughter Shaylynn Widener.

The visitation will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Galva United Methodist Church, Galva, Kansas.

Funeral service will be held on Friday, January 4, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the Galva United Methodist Church, Galva, Kansas with Reverend Mike Miller officiating.

Burial will be at the Empire Cemetery, Galva, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to Galva United Methodist Church or the Galva Senior Center and they can be sent to Glidden-Ediger Funeral Home, 222 W. Euclid St., McPherson, Kansas. 67460.

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Johnnie K. Thornton, 90, of Chase, passed away December 27, 2018 at Good Samaritan Society, Lyons. He was born January 27, 1928 in Marland, Oklahoma, the son of Otto and Florence Burgill Thornton.

He attended Chase High School. Johnnie has resided in Chase since 1949, formerly of Burrton, KS.

At the young age of 17, he was a tank truck driver for Sinclair. In 1985, Johnnie retired as a field pumper for Atlantic Richfield ARCO.

He was a member of the Shriners, Royal Lodge #192 A.F. & A.M., Lyons, KS, and a volunteer firefighter.

Johnnie was an avid gardener, loved canning, and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

On April 16, 1948, Johnnie was united in marriage with Betty A. Clites in Ellsworth, Kansas. She preceded him in death on October 27, 1989. On October 13, 2000, Johnnie was united in marriage with Florence E. Eachus Mellott in Ellsworth, KS. She survives of the home.

He is also survived by his two sons, Darren K. Thornton and wife Charla of Paola, KS, and Steven D. Thornton and wife Sandy of Russell, KS; daughter, Sheryl E. Bass and husband Jimmy of Chase; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Rosemary Hatcher and Wanda Poole; and son, Johnnie C. Thornton.

Funeral service will be 10:30 A.M., Thursday, January 3, 2019 at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons with Johnnie Hardie officiating. Burial will be at Lyons Municipal Cemetery with masonic rites. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 7:00 P.M., Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyon with family present from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Memorials can be made to Senior Center, Chase; Chase High School; or Shriners Hospitals for Children in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.

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Born and raised in Pittsburg, Kansas, he was the son of Ann and Ernest Anselmi. After attending Central HS in Kansas City, Missouri, he enrolled at Baker University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1952. During his collegiate career, he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and also a three sport lettermen in football, baseball and track. His true passion was football as he was a four-year starter; playing both offense and defense while earning All-Conference honors. His outstanding play caught the attention of professional recruiters and he was invited to the Los Angeles Rams football camp. In 2004, Ernie was proudly inducted into the Baker Hall of Fame for his football accomplishments.

Besides his-stellar collegiate achievements, Ernie would boast his most significant accomplishment at Baker University was finding his love of his life, Frances Virginia (Ginger) Newman and they were wed in 1954. Shortly after their wedding, Ernie and Ginger lived in Kansas City, MO and then Prairie Village, KS. In 1963, they established their roots in Leawood, Kansas for more than 30 years to raise their three boys.

Ernie began his career at IBM working in Sales. During his 18-year career, Ernie became one of IBM’s top ten salesmen in the nation winning many sales awards and a member of IBM’s 100% Club fifteen years in a row. Subsequently, Ernie worked at Inland Office as a Regional Sales Manager and he later joined ROM Corporation as a Product Manager with his good friend, Jim Pace. At ROM, Ernie was responsible for revolutionizing the fire truck industry with the Robinson Shutter, a concept he adopted from some European counterparts.

Ernie was also very active in serving his local community. In 1964, Ernie joined the Leawood KS Fire department as a volunteer fireman. During his 25 year career, he served as a Rescue Captain (309) and under his guidance his squad was selected as the National Small Department Rescue Squad of the Year. In addition to his fire service, Ernie also served two terms on the Leawood City Council and was a coach/volunteer for his three sons various sports teams. After a long and successful career, Ernie retired and enjoyed traveling but he “lived” to spend quality time with his extended family. He particularly loved family gatherings and to watch his beloved local sports teams through the good, bad and ugly.

Ernie is survived by his three sons; Kent (Julie Beth) of Olathe, KS, Kurt (Tracy) of Cypress, TX and Kyle (Karen) of Merriam, KS. He was blessed with five grandchildren; Jennifer, Kelsey (Dallas, TX), Stephen (Liberty, MO), Tyler and Brandon (Cypress, TX). He was preceded in death by his wife Ginger (1989) and granddaughter Jennifer Arnett (2012).

A Memorial Visitation will be held from 10:00–11:00 a.m. Followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 21, at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO. In lieu of flowers, Ernie and the family respectfully request donations be made to the Baker Athletic Department, Baker University, c/o Alumni Relations, Post Office Box 65, Baldwin City, Kansas 66006; https://www.bakeru.edu/foreverorange/give-now/

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Herbert A. Hoff, died December 24, 2018, at Clara Barton Hospital. He was born January 16, 1937, in Hays, Kansas, the son of Herbert W. and Rose Marie (Leiker) Hoff. Herbert graduated from Claflin High School in 1956.

A resident of Claflin since 1953, he was a bulk tank agent for Standard Oil for over 40 years. He was also a bus driver for USD 112 for 15 years.

Herbert was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He was active in his community, serving on the city council, as a volunteer fire fighter, and an auxiliary deputy. He was an avid sportsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

On August 17, 1967, he married Rhoda Marie Selness in Claflin, Kansas. After two short years of marriage she died on August 3, 1969. He then married Mary Richardson, with which he adopted a daughter Kim. He and Mary later divorced. Then on June 28, 1975, he married Jane C. Weber in Coldwater, Kansas. They were married for 42 years when she died on November 12, 2017.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wives, Rhoda and Jane, and an infant daughter, Alexandra Marie Hoff.

Friends may call 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, with family to greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m.Vigil and Rosary will begin at 7 p.m. all at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home.Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Friday, December 28, 2018, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, celebrated by Father Terrance Klein. Burial will follow in Claflin Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Claflin Community Scholarship or Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

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Lorraine Joe Richter, 86, and John D. Richter, 70, of Circleville, KS passed away at the Midland Hospice House in Topeka. Lorraine passed on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, and John on December 6, 2018.

She was born February 14, 1932 on the Potawatomi Reservation in Jackson County, the daughter of David Marion and Beulah (Cowger) Wykert.

She graduated from Soldier High School in 1950 and was a lifelong member of the Circleville Community. Lorraine was a waitress and homemaker. She was also a CNA at the Holton Hospital, working for Dr. Roy, and the Merry Manor Nursing Home.

She was a member of the Circleville Christian Church. Lorraine was a devoted mother and grandmother, and enjoyed yard work, gardening, soap operas and the Royals.

She married Willis Shupe in 1950. They later divorced. They shared five children together, Danney, Patty, LeRoy, Alan and Avis.
Lorraine and John were married on November 16, 1975 in Bunker Hill, IN.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Alan Shupe, a daughter, Avis M. Rodney, and two sons-in-law, Greg Logan and Al Rodney.

John was born April 14, 1948 in Topeka, the son of Joe and Ada Mae Myers Richter. He attended Perry High School for three years before graduating from Holton High School in 1966.

He was a farmer and a stockman. He was a member of the Circleville Christian Church, a volunteer fireman with the Holton Fire Department, Jackson County Storm Spotters, and Circleville Masonic Lodge No. 20, AF&AM. He loved hunting, old vehicles, and visiting with friends and neighbors.

Funeral Services for John and Lorraine will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 10, 2018 at the Circleville Christian Church. Burial will follow in the Olive Hill Cemetery. Family and friends will meet from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sunday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Midland Hospice House, Heart of Jackson Humane Society, Holton Fire Department, or the Circleville Christian Church and may be sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.

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Dean E. Swisher, 88, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. He was born Nov. 7, 1930, in Gypsum, to Wilbur and Tressa Swisher. He married Nancy E. Miller, May 30, 1954 in Solomon.

Dean was born and raised in Gypsum. He attended Gypsum Grade School and after graduating High School in McPherson, he attended Fort Hays State University. Over the years Dean worked on construction of the Kansas turnpike in Wichita and El Dorado, was owner and operator of Dean’s 66 Service station in Gypsum, worked for Dickinson and Saline Counties as a supervisor, and was owner and operator of Dean’s Decorating, a painting and wall papering business. He served the town of Gypsum as Mayor, member of the town council, and member of the volunteer fire department.

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James L. “J.T.” Theis 83, died Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at Via Christ, St. Francis in Wichita, Kansas. He was born April 3, 1935 in Ft. Scott, Kansas and was adopted by Nick and Marcella (Gresl) Theis. On September 20, 1958 he married Phyllis L. Rau in Colwich, Kansas and she survives.

J.T. was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Newton and retired from the Newton Fire/EMS in 1985 after 28 years of service. Three weeks ago J.T. retired from Dillons where he worked nearly 25 years during and following his retirement from the fire department. He also worked the family wheat and milo farm near Halstead until all but the family homestead was sold in 2000.

He proudly served his country and was a U.S. Army Veteran.

J.T. enjoyed spending time on the golf course and watching a good baseball game. He was also an avid K.U. Basketball fan. He would record many of the games to re watch and discuss with his grandsons and son in law. During his kids growing up years he coached baseball and basketball teams

Spending time with his family was a joy for J.T. and he greatly looked forward to family gatherings. He worked hard though out his life to provide for his family and was a wonderful, caring and giving father and husband. J.T. was a social butterfly and always had a smile and joke or story to tell.

He is survived by his wife Phyllis of the home; daughter and son in law Becky and Brian Baird of Newton; daughter Brenda and son in law Frank Graham of Derby; daughter in law Michelle Theis of Halstead and one son Kenneth Theis of Texas; sister Jean Struble of Ponca City, OK. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

J.T. is preceded in death by his parents and two sons Pat and Greg Theis

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Newton with The Reverend Devin Burns celebrant. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will precede the Mass at 9:30 a.m., at the church. Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Petersen Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. A private graveside committal will be in the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Newton.

Memorials are suggested to Newton Fire/EMS or Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in care of Petersen Funeral Home.

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GENERAL
The Fairmount Township Fire Department in Basehor, Kansas is currently seeking highly motivated men and women who are passionate about serving the public and delivering the highest level of professional service to a growing community as a firefighter. This entry level position is operational positions assigned to serve the community in emergency response and mitigation efforts to save lives and protect property. The positions work under supervision to perform a variety of critical fire department functions including: firefighting, rescue, emergency medical response and patient care, fire safety inspections, preplans, public education, efficient operation of equipment, and maintenance of facilities.

QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates must be 18 years of age at time of application, have a Kansas Driver’s License, High School Diploma or GED, and IFSAC certified minimum Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Hazardous Materials Awareness, and Hazardous Materials Operations. Emergency Medical Technician Certification in the State of Kansas or National Registry, and NIMS 700, ICS 100 & 200 at time of application to be considered for appointment. Internal applicants may apply without the Firefighter 2 or EMT certification. Applicants will be required to sign a letter of agreement to obtain the Firefighter 2 or EMT certification within 18 months of their hire date or face termination. Prior to applying the candidate must have successfully passed two tests: The Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) within the prior year (copy required with application) and the Written Fire Service Entrance Exam (FSEE) with a score of 70 percent or better within the prior two years. (copy required with application)
Ideal candidates should have basic knowledge of the principles, practices, methods and equipment employed in modern firefighting; fire hazards and fire prevention techniques; and the application of fire records to fire prevention, fire protection, and Fire/EMS report writing. Candidates should be able to perform all functions associated with fire suppression, EMS, rescue, fire prevention, and station/equipment maintenance activities as assigned by the department. Candidates should also have the ability to communicate effectively and portray a positive image of the organization to the general public and be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all members of the organization and outside agencies.
Desirable qualifications include: certifications for Driver Operator, Fire Inspector, and a related associate’s degree, supplemented by formal training in firefighting techniques; or any equivalent combination of education, experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
COMPENSATION
The starting salary for the Full-Time Firefighter position is $37,704.09 plus benefits. This position will work a 24-hour Berkeley shift schedule: 24 hours on (8 a.m. to 8 a.m.), 24 hours off, 24 hours on (8 a.m. to 8 a.m.), 24 hours off, 24 hours on (8 a.m. to 8 a.m.), four days off. Then the schedule repeats.
TO APPLY
Candidates interested in this employment opportunity, should submit an Application, Resume, including copies of required certifications and a brief overview of relevant work experience and education to: Fire Administrator Mike Lingenfelser at Fairmount Township Fire Department, PO Box 136, Basehor, Kansas. For a detailed position description and to download an application, please visit the Departments website at www.fairmountfd.org Positions are open until filled. Application deadline is February 1, 2019 .

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Paradigm, based out in Wichita, KS, hosts pipeline safety training programs for local first responders to work with local pipeline operators. Our Kansas programs are starting in January, and we wanted to see about getting information and our meeting schedule out to your association members.

Don was born July 30, 1935, at Marysville, Kan., to Henry Adolph and Mabel Rose (Cooper) Marquardt. In 1953, he graduated from Marysville High School.

On June 18, 1958, he married Mary Lou Funke at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church.

Don was a member of St. Gregory’s Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Marysville Volunteer Fire Department and Disabled American Veterans. He was a Cub Scout Cubmaster and baseball coach for his kids’ teams. Don served in the Army National Guard and Army active duty during Vietnam Era.

He worked for Burger Fertilizer Plant in Marysville, Finlayson Gravel Pit near Hanover and Dixon Tire. He retired from Kansas Power & Light after working 31 years as a welder. He farmed his family farm for many years.

He enjoyed the time spent with his children and grandchildren.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Helen Scott, Evelyn Schmidt, Kathleen Leikam and Maxine Farrell; and brother, Gary Marquardt.

NWCFD is establishing a hiring eligibility list for new Firefighter/EMT positions in 2019. Firefighters perform duties related to fire prevention, suppression, emergency rescue, basic life support, and first aid under emergency conditions frequently involving considerable danger. Employees in this classification work under direct supervision of a Battalion Chief or Lieutenant and must adhere to rules and regulations for the safety of all persons. Training provides firefighters with general guidance to perform this position, and ongoing knowledge development/maintenance is required.

NWCFD offers a competitive benefit package including a health, dental, and vision insurance plan, Kansas Police and Fire (KP&F) defined-benefit Retirement System, eligibility to voluntarily participate in the supplemental State of Kansas KPERS 457 deferred compensation plan, paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, paid personal leave, paid holidays (x2.0 of regular wages on holidays worked; 12 hours on holidays not worked), and paid bereavement leave. Firefighters work a modified Berkeley shift schedule of alternating days of 24 hours on-duty and 24 hours off-duty for a total of three shift days over a five-day period. Firefighters are compensated with an overtime rate in accordance of the FLSA Section 7(k) exemption.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

● Must be 21 years or older
● Must possess a valid driver’s license with a safe driving record
● High School Diploma or equivalent
● Firefighter I and II Certifications
● Kansas (Transitioned) or National EMT Certification
● Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Certification taken within the last 12 months
● Written Fire Service Entrance Exam (FSEE) with a score of 70 percent or better within the past two years
● The ability to pass a post offer physical, drug screen, and background investigation

NWCFD Employment Application and copies of Firefighter I & II, Kansas (Transitioned) OR National Registry EMT certifications, CPAT, and FSEE results must be included to be considered as a qualified candidate. Please submit all documents along with a NWCFD Employment Application (available at the address below or online at www.nwcfd.org) via mail or in-person at: